Biography

Long version:

Flutist Lars Johannesson was born in a Swedish family and has lived in Liberia, Sweden, Holland and the San Francisco Bay Area. His flute studies began at the Community Music School in Arvika, Sweden, before moving to California in 1979. His early teachers include Pamela Ravenelle and Ken Cramer. Lars studied music at San Francisco State University with Paul Renzi, continued at the San Francisco Conservatory studying first with Lloyd Gowen, then Tim Day. During this time he developed an interest in early flutes and 18th century repertoire which led to lessons with Stephen Schultz, after which Lars spent two years studying baroque flute with Wilbert Hazelzet at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague in Holland.

Upon returning to California, Lars settled in Santa Cruz where he has worked as a flutist and teacher over the last 20 years. Lars performs regularly with the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, Santa Cruz Chamber Players, and New Music Works. As a baroque flutist, he has worked with Magnificat, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Carmel Bach Festival, Musica Angelica, the Portland Baroque Orchestra, San Francisco Bach Choir, California Bach Society, the Baroque Choral Guild, San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, Victoria Bach Festival, and numerous other groups.

Having an interest other musical genres, Lars has recorded for many folk music releases on the Gourd label, as well as for a number of other SF Bay Area artists. He can be found at the occasional 'seisun' jamming with the Santa Cruz Irish music crowd, or playing latin Jazz with the Jack Bowers group.

Lars has a number of interests, including but not limited to marine reef aquariums, fly fishing, photography, and playing the violin.

A current performance schedule can be found on his website: www.larsjohannesson.com/music

Medium version:

Lars Johannesson, flutist, is an active performer and teacher in the San Francisco
and Monterey Bay areas. Lars studied modern flute with Lloyd Gowen and Tim Day at
the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he also began playing Baroque flute.
He pursued post-graduate studies in Baroque flute with Wilbert Hazelzet at the Royal
Conservatory in The Hague, Holland.

Lars performs with numerous West Coast early music ensembles and orchestras, as well as
a variety of 'modern' instrument groups. Lars appears regularly with Santa Cruz Baroque
Festival, Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, New Music Works and Santa Cruz Chamber Players.
Other engagements include performances with Carmel Bach Festival, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra,
Musica Angelica, Espressivo Orchestra, California Bach Society and Jubilate!.
Having an interest in different musical genres, Lars also performs Celtic, Swedish
and other traditional music. As a studio musician, Lars has recorded for numerous
CD releases, including many on the local Gourd Music label. Lars lives in Santa
Cruz and has a website at www.larsjohannesson.com.

Short version:

Lars Johannesson was born in a Swedish family and has lived in Liberia,
Sweden, Holland and the San Francisco Bay Area. Lars studied modern and
Baroque flute at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and at the Royal
Conservatory of The Hague, Holland. He teaches and performs with numerous
local and Bay Area ensembles and orchestras, and loves playing Irish and
Swedish folk music as a diversion from the 'classical' repertoire.